On becoming a “grown-up” I’ve come to the opinion that one does not need to consume large quantities of meat every day and so for weeknight dinners I’ve been preparing a lighter vegetarian meal or one consisting mainly of vegetables with a small amount of lean meat. But as a kid it was a completely different story; I think I’ve mentioned before that if I was really, really good I used to be rewarded with steak. I also had big dreams of going to a Texas steak house and ordering a t-bone the size of my head, just like I’d seen in the movies. Having no problems with low iron stores and being totally filling-free must be the upshot of steak rewards over sugar-laden sweets.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love a thick, juicy, succulent piece of rare beef but I’m really enjoying my new life of meat-free (or meat-very little) weeknight dinners. It’s also a challenge proving to my meat-loving boyfriend that it’s just not necessary to eat the equivalent of a small animal for dinner every night, and I love a good challenge!
Here is a great vegetarian burger recipe but one that you don’t need to eat as a burger. These patties are just as good eaten on their own topped with a fresh green salad and a dollop of chutney or relish.